Congress ridicules Mamata over no−trust move

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Congress Monday ridiculed Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's move to bring a no−trust motion against the UPA government in parliament, saying a 19−member party has never in history made such an effort.

"This is a peculiar situation that in the history of parliament a 19−member party is talking of a no−confidence motion," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters here.

At least 50 members are needed to back a no−confidence motion for it to be accepted on the agenda of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament.

Noting that she had to appeal to those opposition parties (read Left front) she had fought against for 30 years to extend support to her party's no−trust motion, Tewari asked her to introspect her decision, as she was part of the United Progressive Alliance government just three months ago.

"I hope she will introspect and reconsider her decision seriously because till three months back she was part of this government and Trinamool ministers were part of it," he said.

Tewari also asked the West Bengal chief minister to seriously reconsider her decision on the no−confidence motion move, reminding her that a time comes in every politician's life when they have to graduate from being an activist to an administrator.

"A time comes when you have to evolve from a street fighter to a statesperson. You have to evolve from an agitator to an administrator. With due respect, I hope the chief minister will seriously introspect her decision," Tewari said.

Mamata had on Nov 17 announced that her party MPs would bring in a no−trust motion against the UPA government for its policy on allowing foreign investment in retail sector and corruption during the winter session of parliament.

She appealed for support from the Left parties and also the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party for the move.

Tewari, in his attack, also wondered if Mamata had the right to "veto" the policy in the case of states such as Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, which wanted it implemented.

"We have been saying that if the West Bengal chief minister does not want to implement FDI in retail in her state, she is free to do that. But if states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana want to implement it, then is it fair on her part to veto it," he said.

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